SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN Reader’s Guide
The story of Shadow on the Mountain was inspired by the real- life experiences of Erling Storrusten, who was a teenager in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway. Like the real Erling, the fictional hero of the novel, Espen, gets involved in the Resistance, first by delivering illegal underground newspapers, then by becoming a courier, and finally by working as a spy. Eventually, he has to escape on skis over the mountains to neutral Sweden. The backdrop to Shadow on the Mountain: In September, 1939, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia attacked Poland. In November of 1939 the Soviets invaded Finland. Finland fought back in what was known as the Winter War. Many Norwegians went to Finland to help fight against the Soviets. Norway and Finland share a border in the far north of their countries; the Norwegians were worried that the Soviets would also invade their country. When Germany invaded Norway and Denmark in April, 1940, Germany tried to capitalize on that fear by offering to protect the Norwegians from the Soviet Bolsheviks. Sweden, sandwiched between Norway and Finland, remained neutral throughout the war. Sweden sold iron ore to Germany and German soldiers were permitted to travel through the country. But Sweden also harbored thousands of Danish and Norwegian Jews and offered a safe haven to those who worked in Resistance organizations of those countries. Germany went on to invade and occupy France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. That was only the beginning of a war that eventually involved virtually the whole world. The principal belligerents were the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allies included France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China. The war ended in 1945 when the Axis powers surrendered to the Allies.
CURRENT EVENTS Research other places in the world where citizens are resisting or have recently resisted and even successfully overthrown repressive governments. What kind of actions did they take or are they taking to make their voices heard?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why does Tante Marie tell Espen the story of Odin and the well of wisdom? Later, Tante Marie tells Espen to “watch with both eyes.” What does she mean by that? After the episode at the shoe repair shop, why does Espen think that he has “not been watching with both eyes?”
2. Why doesn’t Espen try to find out who is in Tante Marie’s barn?
3. Ingrid writes in her diary that she “had once believed that words ALSO AVAILABLE were powerful.” The Nazis must have believed that words were FROM MARGI PREUS powerful since they made it illegal to listen to British radio broadcasts or read unsanctioned newspapers. What did they hope to accomplish by this? There are still countries that censor SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN Reader’s Guide
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CONTINUED 14. When Kjell drinks the last of the liquid, Espen thinks of how Odin drank from the well of wisdom and saw how news or prevent people from reading or listening to news other humankind could conquer the sorrow and desolation than government-sponsored stations or newspapers. Why do that would befall all people—but he can’t remember how. some governments want to control what people hear or read? What do you think Odin might have seen as the way to In what other ways are people’s access to news, ideas, or conquer “the evil that brought sorrow and desolation to conflicting viewpoints controlled or constricted? humankind”?
4. Why do the characters in the novel make the choices they do? 15. What is the shadow on the mountain? - What are Aksel’s reasons for joining the Nazis? Why is he so bitter? Is his bitterness justified? - What are Kjell’s reasons for joining the hird and the FURTHER RESEARCH Norwegian Nazis? - Why does Espen join the Resistance? What countries were involved in the war? Who was fighting against whom? 5. When Ingrid steals the ration cards, she wonders if “it’s What events led up to the war? How did the United States good or bad, right or wrong.” Later, she steals a ration card eventually get involved? What countries were our (two major) stamp but doesn’t seem to pause to think about it—at least, allies? What (three major) countries were our enemies? we never hear about it. Find these countries on a map of the world to get a sense of the In her book Sky, about her involvement in the Dutch scope of the war. Resistance, Hanneke Ippisch, writes, “When we first became active Resistance workers, we were law-abiding Hitler was convinced the British would attack Germany by citizens. . . . as it became harder to help, we became less invading through Norway. Therefore, he fortified Norway with law-abiding.” Is it ever right to break the law? If so, under (eventually) 400,000 soldiers. Examine a map of Norway—take a what circumstances? look at the coast to see why Hitler needed so many troops there!
6. Why does Espen think that Ingrid’s feeding of the prisoners Most of the countries occupied by the Nazis had active resistance is a powerful act of resistance? Why does he think that groups. Students may want to research the resistance efforts. “over time, ordinary acts of kindness could turn the Nazi ideology to dust?” DENMARK Bright Candles: A Novel of the Danish Resistance, Nathaniel Benchley 7. Norwegians who collaborated with the Germans were given Darkness over Denmark: The Danish Resistance the “ice treatment” by their countrymen who were opposed and the Rescue of the Jews, Ellen Levine to the Occupation. Ingrid thought it was mean. What Number the Stars, Lois Lowry reasons does Espen give as justification for these actions? Do you feel the “ice treatment” was justified? FRANCE Resistance: Book 1, Carla Jablonski and Leland Purvis 8. Why does Tante Marie tell Espen the story about Hunin and (a YA graphic novel) Munin? HOLLAND Sky, Hanneke Ippisch 9. Aksel’s mother says, “You can’t be compassionate toward A Traitor Among Us, Elizabeth Van Steenwyk some people but not others. That is not compassion.” What is compassion? KOREA When My Name Was Keoko, Linda Sue Park 10. Why does Espen decide not to hide the incriminating (Japanese occupation) documents in Kjell’s house? GERMANY Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow, 11. Why does Espen take Ingrid’s diary instead of burning it? Susan Campbell Bartoletti When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Judith Kerr 12. Once while in a rowboat with Kjell and Ingrid, Espen sees a draug . Why does Kjell tell Espen that he saw the draug AUSTRIA The Devil in Vienna, Doris Orgel but tries to make Ingrid believe he didn’t?
13. In his last encounter with Kjell, Espen wonders if he EUROPE Resistance to the Nazis, Jane Shuter really saw the draug or if he had only imagined it. Then he wonders if Kjell is really there with him or if he is only imagining him. What do you think?